What's your favorite low amp space heater?

[RoadTrip]

We're newbies, had our MH about 5 months and have decided we will continue to use it year round (mainly to visit family).

So we have the heated water hose, our MH came with the Arctic Pac, and now we are shopping for a space heater to help out the furnace. Over Christmas we found that our old space heater wouldn't keep up with 25 degrees farenheit outside, but it did help extend the furnace cycles.

But we want to upgrade. So far we've found one ceramic space heater using 12 amps that sounds promising - so we want to ask the experts. What space heater do you use?

[RoadTrip]

Oh, and can someone discuss BTUs?

This is what I'm looking at Digital Quartz Infrared Heater - Howard Berger Co Inc CZ2011P - Portable Heaters - Camping World - note 3400 btu's at 8 amps. (and 20 lbs??)

And this is approximately what I have - Milkhouse Heater - Howard Berger Co Inc CZ798BK - Portable Heaters - Camping World - note 5000 btu's at 12 amps, but this is the one that couldn't keep the heat maintained on its own at anything less than mid 30s.

[AquaMan]

A BTU is basically a measure of heat output. The higher the BTUs the more heat you will have. Most, if not all, residential electric space heaters are 1500 watt or less. The heater you have now, is about the max you can expect to get from any portable space heater.

[RoadTrip]

what about those infrared heaters? They have lower BTUs but claim larger heating square footage.

[MillerTime]

We have a edenpure 1500, infared. I tried it at the house with no furnace to see how well it worked.
It was to be in the upper 20s overnight when I turned it on and turned furnace on to bring inside temp to about 67-68°. I turned the furnace off and left the heater on high and went in the house. In the morning I went out and outside temp was 29°f, went in the trailer and it was about 55-56°. I was hoping it would do a little better than that, but heating about 320sq ft of space, I guess 26° increase of temp isn't to bad. Use it with the furnace and I bet that it would help your propane bill a lot. Probably could use heater only for rvs under 25'.
Hope this helps!

[RoadTrip]

Yeah, thats what I'm sensing - I either need two, or use one solely to supplement the furnace ⛄

[caper]

We use 2 heaters in our 34'TT. We have a 1500 watt heater in the living area and a oil filled heater in the bedroom area. The oil filled is set on the 800 watt setting and it keeps the bedroom warm (we do not like a hot bedroom for sleeping). The heater in the living area is set on low an keeps the room at 72 f. Day time highs around 34 and night time lows mid to high 20's.

[LaydBack]

On my last camper I wired a switch to be able to run the furnace blower only. I use 2 little $20 home depot heaters and run the furnace blower. We've been able to hold temps in the high 60s on some pretty cold nights, maybe in the low 30s. That's with no furnace heat, just the blower.

[The_Stuff]

been using oil filled electric radiators and tried to use the infrared heater in the living room but it was just not enough umph.. using a ceramic heater now. furnace is down cause of a gasket so 2 oil filled radiators (1 bedroom, one bathroom) and the ceramic in the living room.

[rlocicero]

Life is way too short to worry about a couple bucks worth of propane. Turn on your furnace and enjoy yourself. I can maintain 72 degrees using the furnace only but usually keep it at about 66 where I am comfortable. living in western New York we do get our share of cold camping weather. Let's put things in perspective. You pull a $30,000 trailer with a $45,000 truck. Is saving a few bucks on propane worth the trouble? Not as far as I am concerned.

[burati1]

We us a Vornado on the low setting. Heats the trailer just fine. I'd rather use the free electricity at a camp ground than use propane. We are not full timers so we typically are not camped long enough to where we have to pay for electricity.

[LaydBack]

I agree. The way I see it $40 in heaters and a bit of my time will save lots of $$$ in propane. Also, my mod keeps the temp more even throughout the camper, while still circulating heat thru the basement, and you can also use the blower when using the AC. To me, it's a no brainer to get as much as you can for the fees....one fill up on my tanks pays for the 2 heaters.

[RoadTrip]

Originally Posted by rlocicero

Life is way too short to worry about a couple bucks worth of propane. Turn on your furnace and enjoy yourself. I can maintain 72 degrees using the furnace only but usually keep it at about 66 where I am comfortable. living in western New York we do get our share of cold camping weather. Let's put things in perspective. You pull a $30,000 trailer with a $45,000 truck. Is saving a few bucks on propane worth the trouble? Not as far as I am concerned.

I agree with you, and we're not really looking to find a cheap heat - although that is a VERY nice bonus. We mainly use our MH to see family. At least once per month. So Christmas was our first "winter" camp. The temp ranged from 19 to about 34 overnight.

For our furnace, that meant kicking on every 10 minutes. So sure, if we can get to 70 on two electric space heaters, bring it on!

But mainly I just want to have my furnace cycle less.

[LaydBack]

Originally Posted by RoadTrip

I agree with you, and we're not really looking to find a cheap heat - although that is a VERY nice bonus. We mainly use our MH to see family. At least once per month. So Christmas was our first "winter" camp. The temp ranged from 19 to about 34 overnight.

For our furnace, that meant kicking on every 10 minutes. So sure, if we can get to 70 on two electric space heaters, bring it on!

But mainly I just want to have my furnace cycle less.

I don't look at it as cheap.....I just know I have options....I can run the furnace normally with the electric heaters and have it cycle less, or maybe not at all. I can also keep the trailer comfy all day in case wifey or kiddos don't wanna be out in the cool/cold......to each his own....the mod is in the link in my sig.

[caper]

We are on meters and have to pay for our hydro. Found that the electric haters maintained a more constant heat. Yes is was more economical to use hydro over propane. We were saving $50 to $75 per month. When on a fixed income it makes a difference.

[rawlus]

Have you thought about radiant electric floor heat like is used for residential installation? A more permanent solution, takes up no floor space, nothing to setup each trip, controlled by thermostat, etc. thermosoft is one brand but there are many others, often used in bathroom or kitchen renovations and easily DIY.

We only have a small A frame popup and use a micathermic radiant heater for the off-season camping, takes up little space and makes no noise whatsoever (no moving parts)

[FarmerJim]

Originally Posted by RoadTrip

what about those infrared heaters? They have lower BTUs but claim larger heating square footage.

We have one for the house (stick) infra-red Eden Pure heaters . They work good but they are delicate to travel . The "bulbs" easily get destroyed with very little bumping . Wouldn't want to try transporting ours . Jim

[tncruiser]

Originally Posted by caper

We are on meters and have to pay for our hydro. Found that the electric haters maintained a more constant heat. Yes is was more economical to use hydro over propane. We were saving $50 to $75 per month. When on a fixed income it makes a difference.

i bet a lot of folks reading this wonder what "hydro" is
it is a term i dont hear very often but my mother still will sometimes call it hydro,my pepe' would say turn off them %&*M lights you tink we owed da hyro company. i have lived in the states ffor 66 years but i still remember ontario speak and i want to thank you for bringing to the front of my memory this morning
happy and healty new year
and safe travels in 2013
brianj

[KyDan]

To a certain degree (no pun intended) amps can be converted to Watts and watts
to BTUs which are heat.
So if you get a 1400 watt heater, you are gonna get pretty much the same BTU over
various brands. Some have blowers, some don't. Some are oil filled, some are ceramic.
These have different effects. Oil filled don't use a blower and they tend to level out
the heat rather than off/on - warm/cold cycle of say one with a blower.
Oil filled are pretty much silent. Blowers make noise.
The bottom line is if 1400 watts won't keep up you need more watts.
One way to do that is with an extension cord stuck in thru the slide out gasket
which is plugged into the campground power post in the 120v duplex outlet.
This way you won't trip the outlet breaker in your trailer by plugging 2 heaters
in inside your RV.
If your question pertains to keeping your RV warm while parked at home the answer
is still more heaters using more watts and spending more $$ on your electric bill.
Electricity is cheaper than LP whether it's at home or in a campground.

My 2¢

[VinceU]

Just keep in mind a 1500 watt heater is approx 1.5KW. The fixed heaters are from 15,000 to 35000 btu's. I just converted a 35k btu gas furnace to elec 1500 watt for comparison. It would take about 6.8 small elec heaters to match the output of the "big guys". I use both a firepllace at 1100 watts and a floor heater of 1500 watts. Sometimes ya just gotta kick in the big guy.